Just 34 percent of Americans in a Gallup Poll released Thursday say they have a favorable view of the party, down 40 percent from a month ago, before the election.

What’s worse: 61 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party.

According to Gallup, that unfavorable rating is the highest the polling organization has recorded for the GOP since the measure was established in 1992.

The poll of national adults was conducted on November 13-16 with a three percent margin of error.

The numbers are slightly up from a CNN poll released last week that indicated a 54 percent unfavorable rating for Republicans. Only 38 percent of those polled had a favorable rating for the party.

Meanwhile, Democrats continue to bask in the glow of President-elect Barack Obama’s historic victory on November 4. The Gallup poll suggests that 55 percent of Americans hold a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, with 39 percent saying they have an unfavorable view. Those numbers are mostly unchanged from a mid-October survey.

As the debate rages within GOP ranks over where to take the party, the poll might offer some guidance.

Most Republicans - 59 percent - want the party to become more conservative, according to the poll. Another 28 percent want it to remain about the same ideologically, while only 12 percent would prefer to see the Republican Party become less conservative.

Independents are split on whether the party should track left or right: 35 percent of independent voters say the GOP should become more conservative, and 35 percent say less conservative.

soundoff(136 Responses)

James

Day after the election, some on the right including Family Research Council (Bear in mind these people have absolutely nothing to do with family), had a big wig meeting an decided it was John McCain and the Republican moderates who are at fault.

They then chartered a cruise ship and went on a cruise with the likes of Mitt Romney and most likely Newt to hammer this point.

They don't get it! If you don't include the rest of America in your party, this is what is going to happen. The GOP today with the evangelicals, family research council, and with Rovian politics is a narrow, bigoted group of people.

November 20, 2008 12:20 pm at 12:20 pm |

LM75

It looks like finally the American people have come to their senses. When they re-elected Bush I seriously questioned the intelligence of the American people. Welcome to adult leadership.

November 20, 2008 12:20 pm at 12:20 pm |

Angie

Its going to be a long time befort the Gop can come back, they have to cleanse themselves from Bush And Cheny and start by charging them for the crimes they have commited!

November 20, 2008 12:20 pm at 12:20 pm |

chuck

The GOP is like a BAD STOCK everyone wants to BAILOUT or LIKE THE CHINESE MILK that is making everyone SICK and is becoming like three AUTO MAKERS, FLYING IN THEIR PRIVATE JETS AND BEGGING FOR HELP.

November 20, 2008 12:20 pm at 12:20 pm |

frank la may

I have warned you for months John Mccain would not could not win the election. you choose to have him a loser now two times to run against obama who had all kinds of press. what fools you are. now your going to have to rebuilt the party. and i don't think you will see the white house for a number of years. you blew it and got what you earned.

frank la may

November 20, 2008 12:20 pm at 12:20 pm |

Dave

Well, the GOP was taken over by the neo-cons and turned into something that no longer resembles itself. When Bush, Sr. became the VP for Reagan, the neo-con faction began their ascent. Reagan did not care for Bush but was strongarmed into it. Do you really think Obama's choice was Biden? Come on, these people are chosen by the real power in this country. These are all lapdogs. More people in this country must remove the blinders.